The debate surrounding the night flight ban at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is gaining momentum again. A recent study by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), concludes that the strict night flight ban is limiting the competitiveness of Berlin Airport. The study highlights that capacity restrictions are weakening Berlin as a hub internationally and are causing airlines to prefer to base their aircraft at more flexible airports outside Germany.
Ryanair sees the study's findings as vindicating its call for a relaxation of the nighttime operating restrictions. According to the Irish airline, the current regulations lead to economic disadvantages, as diversions and restrictions incur high additional costs. The airline argues that a moderate adjustment of the night flight ban, especially for unforeseeable events such as weather-related delays, is necessary to ensure smoother flight operations.
Ryanair is receiving support from the Berlin Aviation Initiative, an alliance of chambers of commerce, industry representatives, and airport operators. The initiative calls for an adjustment of existing regulations to make Berlin more competitive as an international aviation hub. The debate comes at a time of economic challenges in which industry experts and companies are increasingly pushing for deregulation.
Critics of the proposed relaxations, however, point out that the night flight ban also serves to protect local residents and was politically decided for noise protection reasons. Whether the regulations will be changed remains to be seen. Ryanair, in any case, is demanding a swift response and an adjustment of the existing regulations from the head of the Berlin-Brandenburg Aviation Authority (LuBB), Carsten Diekmann.
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